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If you thinking about becoming a welder, you should keep in mind that despite it’s challenging, this career is absolutely satisfying and rewarding.
Moreover, there is plenty of job options for welders in Oregon.
In case, you’re really interested in this career, we’ve prepared for you the list of the best welding schools in Oregon.
Also, you’ll be able to find some useful info in this article.
Article Table of Contents
Welding in Oregon: Clue Facts
To begin with, before making a decision, it’s important to understand what is welding.
In simple words, welding is a process of joining metal pieces heating and melting them.
In order to do it, you need to be able to use various methods and tools.
Welding Technics and Methods
As we said before, there is a whole bunch of various welding methods.
In fact, there are more than 100 of them and the method choice depends on the type of project.
Among the most popular methods, there are such options as Flux-Cored Weldin, Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Plasma Arc Welding, and others.
Significant Welder’s Characteristics
To become a welder, it’s not enough to get your certification.
There some personal characteristics that are absolutely important.
In order to become a good welder, you need to be:
- Detail oriented;
- Technical skills;
- Physical strength;
- Physical stamina;
- Manual dexterity;
- Spatial-orientation skills.
Average Welder’s Salary in Oregon
An average median salary of a welder throughout the country is about $39 390 per year or $18.94 per hour.
At the same time, welders in Oregon earn a median salary of $42 150 annually or an hourly wage of $20.66.
Speaking of the top 10% of welders throughout the USA, they earn about $62 100 per year, while the top 10% of welders in Oregon have about $57 860 per year.
Where Can Certified Welders Work in Oregon?
There is the whole bunch of industries where certified welder can work in Oregon.
There are such options as:
- Construction of buildings and bridges;
- Manufacturing;
- Aerospace applications;
- Gas & oil field power plants and refineries;
- Shipbuilding;
- Auto & motorcycle fabrication and repair.
Top 13 Welding Certification Schools in Oregon
It can be rather challenging to look for the best welding certification program.
That’s why we’ve decided to offer you our helping hand and prepared the list of the best welding schools in Oregon.
There are 13 available options in the list.
| School | Location | Contact Information | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountain Community College | 2411 NW Carden Ave Pendleton, OR 97801 | (541) 278-5759 | |
| Chemeketa Community College | 4000 Lancaster Dr NE Salem, OR 97305 | (503) 399-5000 | |
| Clackamas Community College | 19600 Molalla Ave Oregon City, OR 97045 | (503) 594-6000 | |
| Clatsop Community College | 1651 Lexington Avenue Astoria, OR 97103 | ||
| Klamath Community College | 7390 South Sixth Street Klamath Falls, OR 97603 | (541) 882-3521 | |
| Lane Community College | 4000 E 30th Ave Eugene, OR 97405 | (541) 463-3000 | |
| Linn-Benton Community Colleg | 6500 Pacific Blvd SW Albany, OR 97321 | (541) 917-4999 | |
| Mt Hood Community College | 26000 SE Stark St Gresham, OR 97030 | (503) 491-6422 | |
| Portland Community College | 12000 SW 49th Avenue Portland, OR 97219 | (971) 722-6111 | |
| Rogue Community College | 3345 Redwood Hwy Grants Pass, OR 97527 | (541) 956-7217 | |
| Southwestern Oregon Community College | 1988 Newmark Ave Coos Bay, OR 97420 | Carol Richards | (541) 888-7206 |
| Treasure Valley Community College | 650 College Blvd Ontario, OR 97914 | (541) 881-5822 | |
| Umpqua Community College | 1140 Umpqua College Rd. Roseburg, OR 97470 | (541) 440-4600 |
Keep in mind that the information in the table may change so we recommend you to doublecheck it.
Popular Degree Programs
Similar Career Options in Oregon
If you don’t feel like becoming a welder bust still, want to work with your own hands, there some similar career options.
You just need to look for alternative careers in Oregon.
These options may as well interest you:
- Boilermaker;
- Soldering and Brazing;
- Plumber, Pipefitter, and Steamfitter;
- Sheet Metal Worker.
Conclusion
Now, as you’ve learned about welding, its specifics and welding schools in Oregon, you can make a final decision.
Just make sure you evaluate your decision properly and start moving towards the career of your dream.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a welder make?
Welders, according to Salary.com, earn an average annual salary of $42,932 (as of December 2021), with a range of $38,273 and $49,331.
For most people, this is a decent income, although welding is not widely seen as a high-earning profession.
That being said, experienced welders can earn as much as $73,736 per year, which is well above the national average.
There are even specialized welding jobs, including underwater welding, that can pay six-digit salaries.
What is a multiprocess welder?
While some welding machines can only perform one type of welding, like MIG, others can perform two or more types of welding.
These are known as multiprocess welders.
To change the welding process on the machine, all you have to do is switch the welding apparatus and make the necessary connections.
It only takes a few minutes for the machine to switch from one process to another.
How do I use a wire feed welder?
When using a wire feed welder, you first need to make sure there is not an excessive amount of wire sticking out.
Keep the welder running for about a minute before you begin using it.
While welding, look out for blue discolorations.
This is a sign that you have good penetration on both sides of the weld.
You also have to make sure you are using the appropriate wire speed, which may take some trial and error.
Finally, you must hold the welder in an almost horizontal position so you can have better control of the weld puddle and optimize performance.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Certified Welder
Welding Schools by City
Welding Schools by State